CD Reviews

Lee Ritenour Is Captain Fingers!

BJ | Florida | 05/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Captain Fingers - Lee Ritenour's second studio album, and what a fantastic album it is! After his first album "First Course", critics complained, saying that his music was too lightweight. This album was his response. Here you will find some of the greatest jazz musicians of the fusion era working in an incredibly tight studio setting led by Captain Fingers himself, Lee Ritenour! From the opening riff of the title track, you know that you're going to be in for a full-on, in-your-face jazz/rock/funk fusion experience.

On one hand, you have the powerful jazz/rock/funk classics like Fly By Night, Margarita, Space Glide and the title track, and then there are a couple of tracks that demonstrate a sense of strong emotional power and Lee's ability to play in more of a ballad-environment (Dolphin Dreams and Sun Song). His version of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" with Bill Champlin on vocals is also great.

The various musicians who work with him on the tracks do nothing but compliment his playing (For example, Ernie Watts' solo on "Fly By Night", Harvey Mason's drumming on the title track and Dave Grusin's beautiful string arrangement and keyboard work on "Sun Song").

I urge anyone who is a fan of the music of George Duke, Tom Scott, Herbie Hancock (Headhunters & Gentle Thoughts periods), Return To Forever or Steely Dan to give this album a try. From beginning to end, this album is amazing (As the final track "Sun Song" is fading out, you'll be left wishing for more, at which stage you move to his next album "The Captain's Journey"!).

Ignore anything negative you've heard/read about this album, and give it a try - you'll be hooked!"